IELTS SCORE

The IELTS test is available in two modules i.e. the academic module
and the general training module and is made up of four tests sections
i.e. reading, writing, speaking and listening. The scoring system of
the test has undergone a number of changes and the present scoring
system is different as compared to what it was in the past. The system
that is being used to judge the candidates performance is that which
came in effect from 1 July 2007. In order to attain a good test score
it is a must that the candidate must clear each of the tests
with good bands. To get admission in a good educational institution in
U.K, Australia, Canada and some other countries the candidate must try
to secure a good score in IELTS. The score requirement is different for
different types of courses. The authorities of that particular
institution decide the score required to be eligible to get admission
in a particular course.

After appearing for the test, the candidate will have to wait for at least two weeks for the score to be processed.

Interpretation of the IELTS Score

The score in IELTS is
interpreted on the band score basis. The performance of the student is
graded on the range of 1 to 9 bands. If the student is given 1 band in
a section then it denotes that the students English skills are very
poor, whereas, if the student secures 9 bands in any of the test
sections then it is interpreted that the students ability to understand
English is very good.

The student can receive his result in two weeks time from the date on which he appeared for the test.
The band score for the entire four test sections i.e. reading, writing,
speaking and listening is given on the scale of 1 to 9.

Band
1 denotes that the student is a non-user of English language; band 2
states that the student is an intermittent user of the English
language. Band 3 denotes that the student is an extremely limited user
of the language. If the student secures 4 bands in his test
then it tells that he is a limited user of the English language.
Securing 5 bands denotes that the student is a modest user and band 6
tells that he is a competent user. If the student gets band 7 in this
test it means that he is a good user of the English language. Band 9,
that is the highest band in the test depicts that the student is an
expert user of the English language.

The student will have to appear for all the four test
sections and will have to score separately for each module. Then all
the four bands, one related to each module will be added up and an
average score will be taken out by dividing it by 4.

Basic Score Requirement

The minimum IELTS score
requirement varies from university to university. A few universities
may demand a score of 5 bands, whereas others may demand a score of 7.5
bands, depending upon the course for which the student wants to seek
admission. The basic band score
that a student should secure to get admission in any good institution
is 6 to 6.5. Some universities in England give admission into Arts and
Social Science courses only if the student is able to attain a test
score of 6.5 bands. For undergraduate law course, the student must get
a score of 6.5 bands. For postgraduate business and management course
the student should fulfill the test result requirement of 7 bands. A
research student who wants to take up a non-clinical project will have
to get a minimum score of 6.5 bands, whereas a clinical project
research student will have to get a score of 7 bands.

Change in IELTS Score

Earlier
the sections of listening and reading were scored as half bands,
whereas the sections of writing and speaking were marked as full bands,
but with effect from July 2007, a change has been introduced in the
score system of IELTS. Now the test sections of writing and speaking
can be graded by using half band scores i.e. the writing and the
speaking can be scored as 6.5 or 7.5.

This change in the test
score
has been introduced to provide the student with more clear and exact
information regarding their English speaking skills. The change in the
test score has been introduced after a continuous interaction and
discussion with test takers,
instructors, guides and various other concerned organizations all over
the globe. The reason for bringing about a change in the score is that
a large number of organizations feel that they find the half band
to be very beneficial as it allows them to point out clearly the level
of English that is required more precisely in a student.

The changed score will also give teachers and the test taker detailed information on his performance in each test module.

Benefits of the Changed IELTS Score

The
benefits of the changed scoring system will
be that the various IELTS recognizing organization will get a chance to
fix their basic essential requirements needed for admission, for giving
jobs etc, and all this will be done on a more precise and detailed
report regarding the student's score in each of the four test modules.
The test report form will also benefit from the change in the score.
The student will receive exact information and report of his strengths
and weak points upon which he should try to work hard.

The
changed result of the test will
be much easier to understand by everyone, as the students performance
in each of the four test sections will be marked in the same manner.
This does not mean that there will be any change in the manner in which
the writing and the speaking tests are assessed. They will be assessed
in the same manner as earlier. The change in the result will not bring
any change in the overall test score. Thus, there is no need to bring
any change in the test requirement.